ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT

• The analysis of industrial effluent shows places where the pH levels of the effluent are unbalanced and exceeds 8,5 (alcalinic) or are lower than 6,5 (acidic).
• Bad levels are found mainly around the Johannesburg CBD emanating from the whole industrial zone from Heriotdale and Denver in the east through to Industria West and North, in the west, and Lea Glen and Robertville to the southeast of Roodepoort.
• To the south of the CBD bad pH levels also exist from effluent of the Electron / Tulisa Park, Booysens, City Deep and Aeroton industrial areas. High lead, copper and chromium levels are found in these areas.
• Southeast of Soweto bad pH levels are found in the vicinity of Devland, where chemical discharges cause pollution.
• In the eastern and northern parts of Greater Johannesburg bad pH levels are found to the north and south of Randburg, east of Sandton and in Alexandra. The Randburg industrial area, as well as the Wynberg / Kew areas play a role in industrial pollution. Contamination in the Modderfontein Spruit subcatchment in the east is the worst, due to AECI, Kynoch fertilizers, Gypsum Industries and the Kelvin Power Station, whose effluent is discharged directly into the river system due to stormwater runoff. High concentrations of ammonia, fluoride, nitrate, sulphate, phosphate and calcium carbonate all lead to high pH levels.

ANALYSIS OF SEWERAGE

• Sewerage pollution mainly occurs where people have no access to waterborne sewers. In parts of Orange Farm in the south, a lack of services causes water pollution due to runoff from informal settlements.
• East of Ennerdale at Sweet Waters, Finetown and Weilers Farm, a lack of sewers also cause similar problems.
• Southwest of Lenasia, including the Lawley settlement, a lack of services results in sewage and litter in stormwater runoff.
• Southwest of Soweto there is a lack of water borne sewers in the Slovo Park, Bushkoppies, Freedom Park and Goldev settlements.
• A lack of services are also found in Protea South and other parts of Soweto, and blockages of stormwater systems and unhealthy and visually unpleasant conditions are found in these areas.
• In the northwestern areas of Soweto the upgrading of water and sewerage systems, and the provision of stormwater drains are currently taking place.
• Northeast of Soweto in the Diepkloof / Orlando area, water pollution is caused by polluted runoff from the Powa Park settlement, while the Klipspruit sewer is also prone to overflowing. Stormwater in the area also transports litter into the natural watercourses.
• Southwest of Roodepoort in the Witpoortjie, Davidsonville, Goudrand and Matholeville areas, a lack of sewers as well as insufficient bulk sewer capacity creates wastewater problems.
• In and around the Johannesburg CBD a lack of sewerage services exist in the Aeroton industrial area in the southwest; the Moffat Park settlement to the southeast; the Canaansland settlement in the Newtown area, as well as in the Denver area. Overcrowding causes the overflow of sewers in central Johannesburg, especially in Newtown, Jeppestown and the densely populated area of Hillbrow.
• West of Johannesburg overflowing sewers cause water pollution in the Industria / Mayfair area.
• In Alexandra the pollutants contained in the runoff is greatly affected by the poor sewerage reticulation system, and the presence of informal settlements. Wastewater includes high levels of COD, PO₄, SO₄, E.coli, lead and other domestic constituents (EMLC: LDO, 1997).
• East of Sandton in the vicinity of Marlboro Gardens services are insufficient to deal with the flow.
• In the far northern areas, no sewers, stormwater of water provision exists, especially in the Zevenfontein settlement. Polluted runoff from these areas therefore results in water pollution.

ANALYSIS OF STATE OF TOTAL WASTEWATER

• This analysis combines the industrial effluent and the sewerage situations into a composite analysis. The worst affected areas of overlap, in terms of wastewater, are situated southeast of Soweto, where the Devland industries and the Freedom Park / Goldev settlements play a role.
• Other badly affected areas are located around the Johannesburg CBD where impacts of industries, informal settlements and overcrowding combine, especially in the southeast and eastern parts of the city centre.
• Badly affected wastewater also occurs east of Sandton and in Alexandra. Inadequate sewerage systems and the adjacent industrial area are the main cause.
• This analysis combines the total effect of solid waste and wastewater. Total waste is a problem west of Orange Farm, where a lack of regular refuse removal as well as a lack of water borne sewers exist.
• East of Ennerdale in the Weilers Farm area, as well as southeast of Lenasia in the Lawley area, a lack of refuse and sewerage services again combines to cause waste problems.
• Southeast of Soweto the Freedom Park/Goldev settlements have total waste problems due to a lack of services, combined with industrial effluent from the Devland area.
• In the south of Soweto, solid waste and sewerage from the Slovo Park area, combine with industrial effluent from Nancefield to cause total waste pollution.
• Another bad area exists southwest of Roodepoort, and includes the Roodepoort industrial area, as well as the Davidsonville, Goudrand and Matoliville settlements.
• The whole zone around the Jhb CBD has high total waste levels, due to a lack of services as well as industries and overcrowding in the area.
• East of Sandton and in Alexandra, high waste pollution is found due to bad industrial effluent, combined with irregular and bad service provision.
• In the north of GJ the worst areas include the Zevenfontein settlement where irregular services exist.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• The view given above is definitely only one sided. There is a lack of data concerning the overuse of products and resources and high waste production in the higher socio-economic classes of GJ, especially in the north. Consumption overpopulation, rather than people overpopulation, exists in these areas (Figure 2), and waste production are mostly higher than in the poorer areas due to a higher rate of resource use per person.